The lines were long, really long, all day, at the Wright Flyer exhibit at SnF. That's no surprise, as the closest-ever replica of the original flying machine was there, for all to see. Additionally, though, there were three of the world's four Flyer flight simulators, for people to try.

The sims are incredible in and of themselves: you lie on a section of "wing," with your toes' trying to snag a piece of dowel rod, to lend support to your hip movements -- they control the wing-warping (the Flyer had no ailerons) -- and their realistic force-feedback springs are realistically stiff. You rest on your belly and your elbows, and your left hand grabs a lever -- for the very-sensitive pitch.

As the long lines of would-be Wrights pass through the sim, the looks of disbelief from the fatigued (it's a good thing the Wrights' flights were so short -- this thing's a real bear to fly), defeated pilots tell the story: the Wright Brothers were truly remarkable human beings, and pilots.

Mike Gilbert, Microsoft's Program Manager, gave us some insight: "It's really unstable, particularly in pitch; the motions pilots use today don't translate directly. The Wrights made four flights with their machine, all straight ahead. When you get a 'real' pilot here -- they just don't know how to fly something that's inherently unstable, and with low control authority."

Mr. Gilbert continued, "It's amazing the amount of physical effort that's required. It's a big airplane -- it's not 'virtual' flying. After about two minutes of flying this thing, you're ready for a break."

More remarkably, the Wrights had to fly this thing right, on the first try, without any sim training (although their gliders gave them a good idea of handling characteristics). Mike reminded us again, "You get on this simulator here -- it's accurate; but remember, there's no wind, like there was in December of 1903..."

As it is, no one at the First Flight Pavillion remembered seeing anyone who made a really good flight on their first try. To borrow a line from the PGA ads and apply it to Orville and Wilbur, "Those guys are good!"

FMI: www.countdowntokittyhawk.com